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Winemaker's Notes

The 2009 Santa Barbara County Syrah combines fruit from most of the vineyards Jaffurs works with. More than a sum of its parts, it is dark and rich. This year's vintage has a little Petite Sirah blended in to add power and complexity. It is a serious wine that is approachable in its youth. Sharing the same farming and winemaking techniques as our vineyard designated wines, it is a wine of great complexity and lower price.

This is a powerfully flavored wine which works well with similarly flavorful food. Try dark sauces, even some with dark fruit. Makes a great reduction sauce. Try spiced or BBQ pork, lamb, or beef. Seared, spiced Ahi is a favorite, as is smoked salmon. Braised short ribs in Syrah reduction sauce!

Critical Acclaim

JS93

James Suckling - "Wonderful aromas of blackberries and black peppers. Full body, with delicious fruit and a velvety tannin structure. Plenty of character. Reminds me of St. Joseph. Drink now.
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RP92

The Wine Advocate - "The 2009 Syrah is a gorgeous entry-level wine loaded with blackberries, blueberries, licorice and herbs. It shows lovely depth and roundness to match some of its more powerful tendencies. A few barrels of Petite Sirah add layers of muscle, yet this remains an exceptionally polished wine at its level, not to mention a fabulous value. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. "

Jaffurs Wine Cellars Winery

Jaffurs Wine Cellars is dedicated to producing great Rhône varietal wines with a new-world independence. It is one of the newest wineries in Santa Barbara County. Owner/winemaker Craig Jaffurs, working out of the Central Coast Wine Warehouse in Santa Maria, produced his first wines during the 1994 harvest. During the 1999 harvest, production increased to 2500 cases including Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, and Roussanne.
View all Jaffurs Wine Cellars Wines

About Central Coast

The largest of California's wine growing regions, the Central Coast produces the majority of California's wine. The district sprawls out, covering most of the vineyard land between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Smaller sub-AVAs of the Central Coast include Monterey Bay, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains and many others.

Notable Facts

Grape varieties range from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Some Central Coast wine is generic, bulk wine that contributes to the high production numbers of the area. But many winemakers and wineries, particular in some of the smaller AVAs, are small production artisans, creating unique and high-quality wine. The great thing about the Central Coast is its diversity - you're able to find a number of grape varieties and styles at a number of different price points.

About California

It's not rare to see a wine's country of origin listed as "California." A country into itself in the wine world, California makes enough varieties and styles to match many European wine countries. It produces a diverse range of wines that span the quality spectrum.

The most famous of the California wine regions is Napa Valley, and these wines are certainly outstanding – but it's not as broad and diverse as its larger neighbor, Sonoma County. Down south, Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley is well-known for its Rhône blends, as well as cool-climate varieties like Pinot and Chardonnay. The Central Coast, the largest California AVA, has many different microclimates that lead to a wide range of wines with many sub-AVAs.

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Fruity

Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.

Smooth & Supple

Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.